Bodin
GMBC
It's time to post the new one. The old one got sold a few months back after I finally decided I couldn't put up with the frame flex and short cranks anymore. It was a good bike, but long road miles have to be done on something you really like riding. Speaking of things I really like riding, meet the new Forza:
Frame & Fork: 12K 30HM Carbon monocoque.
Group: 2009 Dura-Ace (175mm cranks, 53/39 rings, 11-23 cassette).
Wheels: Mavic Ksyrium Elite, Vittoria Diamante Pro tyres.
Parts: FSA (SLK seatpost, OS150 100mm stem, Gossamer bars)
Weight: 7710 grams / 16.99 pounds
I haven't put a lot of miles in to it yet, but the initial impressions are that this is all about road racing. Pretty stupid of me to buy a balls-out race bike, really, because all I was after was a training bike to get some miles up for MTB endurance races, but when the Borsari guys spoke to Azzurri for me, it became another offer I couldn't refuse.
The frame is bucket loads stiffer than the old one. I'm actually a bit heavier than usual at the moment and I was cranking out of turns this morning with much more confidence, as it felt like the power was getting transmitted directly to the road instead of being wasted through bending the frame. Where I'm not confident (yet) is at speed - this is the lightest bike I've ever ridden and it picks up speed so suddenly that it actually freaks me out a little. Added to that, I'm usually pretty twitchy on descents to begin with and the ridiculously light wheels and tyres only add to my anxiety once I get beyond about 70kph. It'll be interesting to see if I get over this and start feeling comfortable at speed.
Comfort at all other times is really good, though. It's the right size for me and the shortish stem is something I prefer on road bikes. I need to work on my flexibility before I start dropping the stem down the steerer tube, but it's supposed to be a training bike, so I probably won't bother. Road vibrations are damped really well and when you hit a significant crack or bump on the road, the shock isn't transferred directly in to your spine like on aluminium bikes - it's like you can feel the seatstays absorb the spike and then slowly expand back in to shape. It doesn't make it feel sluggish, but it does reduce the shock. Very nice.
2009 Dura-Ace is the business. I like the aesthetics more and the geometry of the levers finally suits me. The flip side is that they've limited some of the functionality - you can't trim the front derailleur in the big ring and you can't shift more than 2 gears at a time in the rear. Time will tell whether I get frustrated or familiar with these changes. Having said that, though, I've never ridden a drive train that is so dialled. Kudos to the Borsari Cycles mechanic, but it's probably a good indication that 2009 DA works really well. Every shift is just bang on target and a lot quieter than the 7800 series stuff.
Changes - I already have a 12-27 cassette on order for hilly days (it'll probably end up being permanent) and a second chain so I can swap chains every few hundred kms and get every last bit of life out of the rings and cassette. I'll probably be getting some Dura-Ace pedals to replace my heavy old Look Legends. The jury is also out on the Arione seat - I know it's a good seat, but I had one on the old Forza and didn't really like it, so this might end up going as well. The other thing I'm considering is carbon bars. The Gossamer bars feel really thin in my hands (guess I'm too used to MTB grips), so I may consider some of the fatter FSA carbons at some point. Or I might save myself about $300 and just put another layer of bar tape on. I've already doubled my intended budget on this bike.
Anyway - it's a brilliant ride and I have to express my sincere gratitude to Borsari Cycles and Azzurri Bikes for hooking me up with such a great deal on such a great bike. The Forza has come a long way in three years.
Frame & Fork: 12K 30HM Carbon monocoque.
Group: 2009 Dura-Ace (175mm cranks, 53/39 rings, 11-23 cassette).
Wheels: Mavic Ksyrium Elite, Vittoria Diamante Pro tyres.
Parts: FSA (SLK seatpost, OS150 100mm stem, Gossamer bars)
Weight: 7710 grams / 16.99 pounds
I haven't put a lot of miles in to it yet, but the initial impressions are that this is all about road racing. Pretty stupid of me to buy a balls-out race bike, really, because all I was after was a training bike to get some miles up for MTB endurance races, but when the Borsari guys spoke to Azzurri for me, it became another offer I couldn't refuse.
The frame is bucket loads stiffer than the old one. I'm actually a bit heavier than usual at the moment and I was cranking out of turns this morning with much more confidence, as it felt like the power was getting transmitted directly to the road instead of being wasted through bending the frame. Where I'm not confident (yet) is at speed - this is the lightest bike I've ever ridden and it picks up speed so suddenly that it actually freaks me out a little. Added to that, I'm usually pretty twitchy on descents to begin with and the ridiculously light wheels and tyres only add to my anxiety once I get beyond about 70kph. It'll be interesting to see if I get over this and start feeling comfortable at speed.
Comfort at all other times is really good, though. It's the right size for me and the shortish stem is something I prefer on road bikes. I need to work on my flexibility before I start dropping the stem down the steerer tube, but it's supposed to be a training bike, so I probably won't bother. Road vibrations are damped really well and when you hit a significant crack or bump on the road, the shock isn't transferred directly in to your spine like on aluminium bikes - it's like you can feel the seatstays absorb the spike and then slowly expand back in to shape. It doesn't make it feel sluggish, but it does reduce the shock. Very nice.
2009 Dura-Ace is the business. I like the aesthetics more and the geometry of the levers finally suits me. The flip side is that they've limited some of the functionality - you can't trim the front derailleur in the big ring and you can't shift more than 2 gears at a time in the rear. Time will tell whether I get frustrated or familiar with these changes. Having said that, though, I've never ridden a drive train that is so dialled. Kudos to the Borsari Cycles mechanic, but it's probably a good indication that 2009 DA works really well. Every shift is just bang on target and a lot quieter than the 7800 series stuff.
Changes - I already have a 12-27 cassette on order for hilly days (it'll probably end up being permanent) and a second chain so I can swap chains every few hundred kms and get every last bit of life out of the rings and cassette. I'll probably be getting some Dura-Ace pedals to replace my heavy old Look Legends. The jury is also out on the Arione seat - I know it's a good seat, but I had one on the old Forza and didn't really like it, so this might end up going as well. The other thing I'm considering is carbon bars. The Gossamer bars feel really thin in my hands (guess I'm too used to MTB grips), so I may consider some of the fatter FSA carbons at some point. Or I might save myself about $300 and just put another layer of bar tape on. I've already doubled my intended budget on this bike.
Anyway - it's a brilliant ride and I have to express my sincere gratitude to Borsari Cycles and Azzurri Bikes for hooking me up with such a great deal on such a great bike. The Forza has come a long way in three years.
